Combined adjustable shag rug-power nozzle cleaner construction

ABSTRACT

A suction cleaner nozzle having a power driven rotary brush mounted on the nozzle aligned with the nozzle inlet opening and a shag rug attachment mounted on adjustable nozzle supporting wheels. A motor is mounted on the nozzle and is connected to the brush by a belt for power driving the brush. The nozzle has a pair of front and rear wheels for roller supporting the nozzle when being used without the shag rug attachment. The front wheels are journaled on the ends of a pivotally mounted lever which is engaged by an eccentric cam for varying the nozzle inlet opening and brush height above a surface being cleaned. The shag rug attachment has a pair of spaced skid-like runners extending laterally of the nozzle inlet opening and a rake pivotally mounted at the front end of the runners. A pair of spring clips is mounted on the runners and detachably connect the shag rug attachment to the nozzle front wheels, whereby adjustment of the wheels by the lever varies the distance that the shag rug attachment is spaced below the nozzle inlet opening.

United States Patent [191 Martinec et al.

[ June 25, 1974 1 1 COMBINED ADJUSTABLE SHAG RUG-POWER NOZZLE CLEANER CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventors: Eugene F. Martinec, East Cleveland; Max L. Fairaizl, Chagrin Falls, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: Health-Mor Inc., Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 322,959

Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph Frease [5 7] ABSTRACT A suction cleaner nozzle having a power driven rotary brush mounted on the nozzle aligned with the nozzle inlet opening and a shag rug attachment mounted on adjustable nozzle supporting wheels. A motor is mounted on the nozzle and is connected to the brush by a belt for power driving the brush. The nozzle has a pair of front and rear wheels for roller supporting the nozzle when being used without the shag rug attachment. The front wheels are joumaled on the ends of a pivotally mounted lever which is engaged by an eccentric cam for varying the nozzle inlet opening and brush height above a surface being cleaned. The shag rug attachment has a pair of spaced skid-like runners extending laterally of the nozzle inlet opening and a rake pivotally mounted at the front end of the runners. A pair of spring clips is mounted on the runners and detachably connect the shag rug attachment to the nozzle front wheels, whereby adjustment of the wheels by the lever varies the distance that the shag rug attachment is spaced below the nozzle inlet opening.

7 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU 2 3.818.540

sum 1 or 5 COMBINED ADJUSTABLE SHAG RUG-POWER NOZZLE CLEANER CONSTRUCTION RELATED PATENT The new construction constitutes an improvement upon the construction disclosed in Fairaizl et al application, Ser. No. 268,860, filed July 3, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to suction cleaners and particularly to attachments for nozzles of suction cleaners for cleaning and combing rugs having long shaggy rug nap strands. More particularly the invention relates to adjustably mounting a shag rug attachment on a power suction cleaning nozzle. The attachment is mounted on nozzle wheels which are adjustable with respect to the nozzle, to provide adjustment for the spacing of the shag rug attachment below the nozzle inlet opening.

2. Description of the Prior Art Difficulties have been encountered in the art in effectively cleaning and dressing up the appearance of shag rugs. Cleaning requirements include maintaining the nozzle lips and suction inlet opening spaced from the rug backing a predetermined fixed distance so that air circulates through the rug nap or strands to obtain maximum cleaning efficiency. Along with this requirement, it is desired to complete the cleaning operation by loeating the shaggy strands to extend in an orderly fashion and present a neat appearance.

The skid construction shown in US. Pat. No. 3,668,734 provides an efficient answer for obtaining a good shag rug cleaning efficiency as well as easy nozzle movement along the surface of a shag rug without sealing the nozzle lips and inlet opening against the shag strands which would prevent the flow of cleaning air through the nozzle.

However, the construction of US. Pat. No. 3,668,734, while maintaining the proper nozzle height with respect to a shag rug, does not provide any means of adjusting the attachment location with respect to the nozzle lips so as to maintain proper location of elements of the tool with respect to the surface being cleaned; and does not comb the shag strands to provide a neat rug appearance when completely cleaned. Nor

does the prior construction loosen the strands from one another for increased cleaning efficiency in use. This skid construction is intended for use on nozzles which have no power-driven rotary brushes within the nozzle.

A rake attachment for a suction cleaner nozzle has been proposed in our copending application Ser. No. 268,860, filed July 3, 1972. The rake attachment combs the strands of a shag rug during nozzle movement across the rug to obtain better cleaning efficiency and to complete the cleaning operation by locating the shaggy strands to extend in an orderly fashion, thereby presenting a neat appearance.

The shag rug attachment disclosed by said copending application Ser. No. 268,860 greatly reduces the cleaning problems encountered with prior suction cleaning nozzle rake attachments and provides an efficient shag rug cleaning attachment for suction cleaner nozzles.

The concept of the improvements herein disclosed, however, provides a shag rug cleaning attachment in cooperation with a power suction cleaner nozzle having adjustable wheels whereby adjusting such nozzle wheels in turn adjusts the location of the shag rug attachment with respect to the nozzle inlet opening and rotary brush.

No cleaner nozzle construction of which we are aware provides for mounting a shag rug attachment on a power cleaner nozzle wheels, whereby adjustment of the nozzle wheels adjusts the shag rug tool location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing a power nozzle construction having an adjustably mounted shag rug attachment, particularly for cleaning efficiency, which combs the shag rug strands during nozzle movement across the rug to present a neat cleaned rug appearance, and which permits easy manipulation of the nozzle; providing a power nozzle construction having an adjustably mounted shag rug attachment of the character indicated which preferably is removably mounted by spring clips on the nozzle wheels enabling the attachment to be removed easily enabling the nozzle to be used for cleaning hardwood floors and carpets having short nap; providing a power nozzle construction having a shag rug attachment mounted on the nozzle wheels, which wheels are journaled on the ends of a pivotally mounted lever, and in which the lever is pivoted by suitable means to vary the height at which the nozzle inlet opening is located above the rug backing during cleaning; providing a power nozzle construction having an adjustably mounted shag rug attachment which when the attachment is in a predetermined position on the nozzle maintains a constant height of the nozzle inlet opening above the backing of the rug being cleaned throughout front and back stroke movement of the nozzle across the rug, and which combs the rug strands during at least one of such nozzle stroke movements; providing a power 'nozzle construction having an adjustably mounted shag rug attachment in which an electric motor is mounted within the nozzle housing and drives a rotary brush aligned with the nozzle inlet opening, and which shag rug attachment is adjustable with respect to the nozzle and brush by manipulation of the nozzle wheels lever mounting means; and providing a power nozzle construction having an adjustably mounted shag rug attachment which incorporates the foregoing advantageous features and which is sturdy and durable in use, automatic in combing operation and which eliminates difficulty heretofore encountered, achieves the objectives indicated, and solves problems and satisfies needs existing in the art.

These objectives and advantages are obtained by the power nozzle construction having an adjustably mounted shag rug attachment, the general nature of which may be stated as including a housing formed with an elongated front suction nozzle inlet opening, an air outlet adapted to be connected to a source of suction, and means providing a path for air flow therebetween; agitator means mounted within the housing aligned with and adjacent to the inlet opening; electric motor means for rotating the agitator means; shag rug attachment means mounted on the nozzle spacing the nozzle inlet opening above the shag rug attachment and supporting the nozzle for movement of the nozzle over the surface of the rug; wheel means mounted on the nozzle housing adapted for the movement of the nozzle over the surface of a rug being cleaned when the shag rug attachment is detached from the nozzle; means adjustably mounting the wheel means on the nozzle to vary the nozzle inlet opening height above a rug being cleaned; the shag rug attachment means being detachably mounted on the adjustable wheel means whereby adjustment of the wheel means when the shag rug attachment is mounted thereon, varies the location of the attachment with respect to the nozzle inlet opening; the nozzle adjustment means including lever means pivotally mounted on the housing, the wheel means being rotatably journaled on the lever means; and eccentric cam means mounted on the nozzle housing and engageable with the lever means whereby movement of the cam means pivots the lever means to vary the wheel means location with respect to the nozzle inlet opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles is set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. I is a side elevation of the power suction cleaner nozzle having the shag rug attachment adjustably mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the cleaner nozzle and shag rug attachment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the cleaner nozzle and shag rug attachment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cleaner nozzle and shag rug attachment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 4 with the shag rug attachment and nozzle base plate removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shag rug attachment removed from the nozzle;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7, FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8, FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 9-9, FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 10-10, FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view with portions broken away, looking in the direction of arrows 11-11, FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 12-12, FIG. 4, with the nozzle shown in intermediate adjusted position;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 13-13, FIG. 4, with the nozzle in the low adjusted position;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 9 with the nozzle in the high adjusted position;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 15-15, FIG. 13, showing the eccentric nozzle adjusting cam in low position;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 16-16, FIG. 14, showing the eccentric nozzle adjusting cam in high position;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIGS. 15 and 16 showing the eccentric nozzle adjusting cam in an intermediate position; and

FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 are views similar to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, respectively, showing the nozzle and shag rug attachment cleaning a deep pile rug.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The improved construction including a shag rug attachment adjustably mounted on a power nozzle is generally indicated at 1, and is shown particularly in FIGS. l-5. The nozzle is generally indicated at 2 and the shag rug attachment is generally indicated at 3.

Nozzle 2 has a generally rectangular-shaped outer housing 4 which includes an upper housing section 4a. Housing 4 is formed by front and rear walls 5 and 6, end walls 7 and 8, and top wall sections 9 and 12. Upper housing section 4a extends upwardly from housing top wall section 9 and is formed by a sloping front wall 10, end wall 11, top wall section 12, and extensions of housing end wall 8 and a portion of rear wall 6.

Nozzle 2 is removably mounted at the end of a wand 13 by a pivotally mounted air outlet tubular connector 14 extending upwardly rearwardly from rear wall 6. Wand 13 is connected to a hose leading to the cleaners source of suction, not shown.

A rubber bumper strip 15 is mounted on housing 4 and extends about the lower portions of end walls 7 and 8 and front wall 5 to protect wall baseboards and furniture from being marred or scratched during cleaning operations.

A pair of parallel spaced walls 16 and 17 (FIGS. 5, and 7-9) are formed integrally with and extend downwardly from top wall 12 within housing 4 and form a .portion of a suction air passage 20 which communicates with the air outlet connector 14.

A pair of aligned walls 18 and 19 are formed integrally with and extend downwardly from housing top wall sections 9 and 12, respectively, and are spaced from and parallel with housing front wall 5 (FIG. 5). Curved wall portions 21 and 22 integrally join walls 16 and 18 and walls 17 and 19, respectively.

Housing inner walls 16-19 and wall portions 21 and 22 together with housing end walls 7 and 8 and rear wall 6 form compartments 23 and 24 within housing 4. An elongated front suction compartment 25 is formed by walls 18 and 19, housing front wall 5 and end wall 7, and a partition plate 26 which extends between wall 19 and front wall 5. Suction compartment 25 extends laterally with respect to suction passage 20 with the open bottom of compartment 25 forming a usual nozzle mouth or suction inlet opening 27 (FIG. 5).

A bottom casing member 28 (FIGS. 7-9) is mounted within housing 4 and forms the lower portion of suction passage 20 and a socket for pivotally mounting connector 14. Casing 28 has an irregular shape and includes spaced parallel end walls 29 and 30 which are joined together at their lower ends by a sloping bottom wall section 31 and a concave bottom wall section 32. Casing 28 is mounted within housing 4 by flanges 33 and 34 which extend outwardly from the upper ends of end walls 29 and 30, and which are secured by screws 35 to bosses 36 which extend downwardly from housing top wall sections 9 and 12. The top edges of end walls 29 and 30 abut the bottom edges of walls 16 and 17, and the front edges of walls 29 and 30 abut the rear edges of curved wall portions 21 and 22 as indicated by joints 37 and 38, FIGS. 7 and 8, when casing 28 is connected to bosses 36 (FIG. 9). Plastic sealing strips 39 extend along and cover joints 38.

Channels 40 and 41 are formed on end walls 7 and 8 adjacent suction compartment 25 into which bearing pads 42 and 43 are inserted for rotatably mounting a usual nozzle cleaning brush 44. Several series of brush bristles 45 are arranged in curved configuration on brush shaft 46 providing additional cleaning means together with the suction air currents drawn through compartment 25 and passage 20.

Shaft 46 extends through an opening in partition plate 26. A rounded knob 47 is formed on shaft 46 between partition plate 26 and bearing pad 43 and is engaged by a flexible drive belt 48. Belt 48 extends between knob 47 and a shaft 49 of an electric motor 50 for power driving brush 44. The flexibility of belt 48 enables it to conform to the curvature of knob 47 to maintain belt 48 centered about the high point of knob 47.

Motor 50 is mounted on housing top wall section 12 within compartment 24 by screws 51. An electric cord 52 connects motor 50 to a source of electric power and extends from housing 4 through a ferrule 53 in rear wall 6 and is held against wand connector 14 by a clip 54.

Nozzle 2 rolls on a pair of usual rear wheels 55 and 56, and on a pair of front elongated wheels 57 and 58 for easy movement of nozzle 2 across a surface being cleaned when not being used in the improved combination with shag rug attachment 3. Rear wheels 55 and 56 (FIG. l2) are rotatably mounted on axles 59 which are mounted on U-shaped brackets 60. Brackets 60 are supported by screws 61 on bosses 62 formed on and extending downwardly from top wall sections 9 and 12.

A pair of vertical anchor posts 63 and 64 extend downwardly from top wall sections 9 and 12, respectively, into compartments 23 and 24. Nozzle base plate 65 (FIG. 4) is mounted on posts 63 and 64 by screws 66. Reinforcing ribs 67 and 68 connect posts 63 and 64 to rear wall 6; and a diagonal reinforcing rib 69 connects top wall section 9 and rear wall 6.

Base plate 65 preferably is formed of thin sheet metal and terminates in upwardly projecting end and rear flanges 70 and 71 which engage the bottom edges of end walls 7 and 8 and rear wall 6. An upwardly inwardly projecting channel flange 72 (FIG. 7) is formed at the front edge of base plate 65 and engages a rib 73 projecting outwardly from the bottom edge of nozzle front wall 5. Flange 72 securely holds base plate 65 on the'nozzle housing when screws 66 are firmly engaged in anchor posts 63 and 64.

Base plate 65 is formed with an elongated rectangular-shaped opening 74 which coincides with the nozzle mouth 27 of suction compartment 25. A plurality of ribs 75 (FIG. 4) extend laterally across plate opening 74 to stiffen the plate opening 74.

Rear wheels 55 and 56 project through a pair of base plate wheel openings 76 and 77. Front wheels 57 and 58 project through elongated openings 78 and 79 formed in base plate 65. Openings 78 and 79 are parallel with nozzle inlet opening 27.

An irregularly shaped lever indicated at 80 (FIG. 5) is pivotally mounted on nozzle 2 within housing 4. Lever 80 includes end sections 81 and 82 on which front wheels 57 and 58 are rotatably journaled. End caps 83 and 84 and tabs 85 and 86 retain wheels 57 and 58 on lever ends 81 and 82, respectively.

Lever 80 has a pair of parallel lever sections 87 and 88 extending from and normal to end sections 81 and 82. Lever section 88 is connected integrally with section 82 and lies in the same horizontal plane as'section 82 (FIG. 8). Section 87 is connected to end section 81 by a short vertically extending lever section 89 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

Lever section 87 slopes upwardly and is joined to a short longitudinally extending lever section 90, which in turn is connected to lever section 88 by sections 91 and 92. Lever section is engaged by the nozzle ad- 15 justing cam means; and lever section 92 provides for pivotally mounting lever 80 on nozzle 2.

Lever 80 is pivotally mounted on nozzle 2 by a pair of generally triangular shaped blocks 93 (FIGS. 8 and 9) which are attached by an adhesive, screws or other means to bottom wall sections 31 and 32 of casing 28. Lever section 92 lies loosely within slots 94 formed in pivot blocks 93 and is retained therein by a cover plate 95. Plate 95 is secured to blocks 93 by screws 96. A pair of tabs 97 (FIG. 5) formed on lever section 92 maintains lever 80 located properly within slots 94.

The height of nozzle inlet opening 27 with respect to a surface being cleaned is adjustable by cam mechanism indicated at 97, which engages lever 80.

Cam mechanism 97 (FIGS. 13-17) consists of a shaft 98 which extends through an opening 99 formed in housing rear wall 6. An enlarged rectangular cam 100 is eccentrically mounted on shaft 98. Cam 100 is spaced from housing rear wall 6 by a pair of nylon spacer discs 101 and 102.

A third nylon spacer disc 103 is mounted on shaft 98 exteriorly of housing 4 and is located between a position indicating plate 104 and a split ring 105. Plate 104 (FIG. 3) has the nozzle setting indicators stamped thereon and split ring 105 is seated in groove 106 formed in shaft 98 (FIG. 13). A knurled knob 107 is attached to the outer end of shaft 98 by a setscrew or the like.

A pair of position stop pins 108 and 109 is embedded in spacer disc I01 and extends outwardly from disc 101 past disc 102 for engagement with a similar pin 110 embedded in and extending from cam 100. Pins 108 and 109 are spaced apart approximately 90 as shown in FIGS. 15-17.

Cam 100 has four cam surfaces 111, 112, 113 and 114 which selectively engage lever section 90 to adjust the vertical position of inlet opening 27 with respect to the surface being cleaned when nozzle 2 is used without attachment 3, and to adjust the spacing of attachment 3 below inlet opening 27 when attachment 3 is mounted on nozzle 2. A spring 115 (FIG. 5) is connected to and extends between lever section 82 and a motor mounting screw 51 biasing wheels 57 and 58 upwardly into housing 4 and biasing lever section 90 into engagement with cam 100. The particular manner of adjusting nozzle 2 by cam mechanism 97 is described in detail below.

Shag rug cleaning attachment 3 (FIG. 6) has a skidlike form with a pair of channel shaped sled-like runners 116 spaced apart and extending a considerable distance forwardly and rearwardly laterally of inlet opening 27 when member 3 is mounted on nozzle 2. Runners 116 are assembled in a frame-like arrangement with a front cross bar 117 seated in rolled beads 118 formed in the upturned front ends 126 of runner channel webs 119. A rear cross bar 120 is seated in curved notches 121 formed in the rear edges of channel flanges 122.

A rake 123 is mounted for limited pivotal movement adjacent front cross bar 1 17 on attachment 3. Saddlelike brackets 124 are mounted in any usual manner as by screws 125 on the upper portions of the upturned front ends 126 of each runner 116. Rake 123 preferably may be of molded plastic material having a main rake bar 127 and integral tines, points or teeth 128. Teeth 128 preferably are formed with a rounded lower end 129.

Rake 127 has cylindrical end portions 130 which are journaled in brackets 124 between the brackets 124 and upturned ends 126 at the front ends of runners 116, in order that rake 123 may swing or pivot backward or forward on attachment 3. Rake 123 is located a considerable distance in front of nozzle front wall and extends in an outrigged fashion generally parallel to nozzle inlet opening 27, as shown in FIG. 4. In this manner, the rake does not come in contact with or interfere in any manner with the suction cleaning action of the nozzle maintained spaced'at a selected height above attachment 3 and the rug backing to provide a sufficient cleaning air current.

Pivotal movement of rake 123 is controlled by radial pins 131 projecting from the cylindrical rake ends 130 and movable in elongated slots 132 formed in each bracket 124. The length and location of slot 132 in a bracket 124 and the arcuate location of radial pin 131 with reference to the axis of the rake teeth 128 determine the amount of rotation of eachrake 123 when pivoted on its pivotal mounting, as well as the direction in which the rake may pivot between an upright portion of the rake teeth 128 and a swung rake portion.

Pins 131 project from the rounded rake ends 130 at an angle of 180 from the direction in which the axis of the teeth 128 project from the rake bar 127. Slots 132 extend downwardly through an arc of about 45 so that rake 123 can swing between the vertical rake tooth portion of FIGS. 12-14, upwardly, rearwardly to the angled portion shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 12.

A spring clip 133 is attached by a rivet 134 to web 119 of each runner 116 for mounting rug attachment 3 on nozzle 2. Each clip 133 is formed by a pair of spaced leg members 135 having outwardly curved center portions 136. Portions 136 have a radius of curvature equal to the radius of front nozzle wheel 57 and 58, so that clips 133 clamp tightly about and conform to wheels 57 and 58 (FIGS. 12-14) to detachably mount rug attachment 3 on nozzle 2.

The rear end 137 of each runner 116 is curved upwardly to prevent snagging with the rug strands when cleaner nozzle assembly I is moved in a backwards stroke. The rear end of each runner channel web 119 is curved upwardly extending beyond crossbar 120 and terminates in a generally downwardly extending curved portion 138. A slot 139 is formed in web curved portion 138 for detachably engaging a post 140 mounted on nozzle base plate 65.

A pair of openings 141 (FIGS. 4 and 11) is formed in base plate 65 for receiving runner curved web ends 119. A retaining plate 142 is attached to the upper end of each post 140 and is spaced above base plate 65 and openings 141.

Rug cleaning attachment 3 may be mounted and removed quickly and easily on and from nozzle 2 to permit cleaner nozzle assembly 1 to be used for cleaning shag rugs and the like, and to permit nozzle 2 to be used (without rug attachment 3) for cleaning usual short pile carpets, hardwood floors and the like.

To mount attachment 3 on nozzle 2, curved ends 138 of runner webs 119 are inserted through openings 141 in base plate 65 and posts 140 are engaged by runner slots 139. When posts 140 are seated in slots 139, attachment 3 is moved upwardly until wheels 57 and 58 are engaged within and held by clips 133. The curvature of wheels 57 and 58 enables clip legs 135 to be forced outwardly a sufficient distance so that wheels 57 and 58 seat between curved leg portions 136 without manual manipulation of clips 133. The flexibility of clip legs 135 enables legs 135 to clamp tightly around wheels 57 and 58.

Runner web ends 138 are loosely engaged with posts 140 having a somewhat floating action between retaining plate 142 and base plate 65. This loose engagement enables runners l 16 to pivot slightly about runner web ends 138 for connection to nozzle wheels 57 and 58 and for adjustment of nozzle inlet opening 27 with respect to runners 116.

Attachment 3 is removed easily from nozzle 2 by pulling downwardly on runners 116 with respect to nozzle 2, which movement automatically disengages wheels 57 and 58 from clips 133. Attachment 3 then is moved downwardly forwardly to remove runner web ends 138 from engagement with post 140 and retaining plate 142. I

The eccentricity of cam 128 with respect to shaft 98 and its engagement with lever provides the means for adjusting nozzle inlet opening 27 with respect to a surface being cleaned, indicated by line 143, and for adjustably spacing rug attachment 3 below opening 27. The adjustment of rug attachment 3 is illustrated best in FIGS. 12-17.

In a usual or intermediate cleaning position (FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 12) nozzle base plate 65 is generally parallel with runners 116 of attachment 3, with cam surface 112 (FIG. 17) engaging lever section 90. Nozzle 2 slides across surface 143 on runners 116 in usual cleaner front and back nozzle strokes and suction cleans and member 3 rakes a rug in a similar manner to that described in our copending application Ser. No. 268,860.

Nozzle inlet opening 27 is lowered for cleaning shag rugs having short strands by rotating knob 107 (FIG. 3) in a clockwise direction which moves pin 110 in a counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 15-17. Pin 110 moves from the position of FIG. 17 through a angle to the position of FIG. 15 in moving from indicating position 1 (FIG. 3) to indicating position LO, with further rotation being prevented by pin engaging pin 108. Cam surface 112 engages lever section 90 in the intermediate adjusted position with cam surface 114 engaging lever section 90 when in the lower adjusted position.

Lever section 90 is maintained at a distance X (FIG. 17) from the axis of shaft 98 when in the intermediate position which spacing is in direct relationship to the spacing between inlet opening 27 and attachment runners 116 indicated at X (FIG. 12). Due to the eccentricity of the cam surfaces 112 and 114 with respect to shaft 98, lever section 90 is at a distance Y (FIG. 15)

from the axis of shaft 98 when in the lower position. Lever section 90 is maintained in contact with cam 100 by spring 115.

Inlet opening 27 moves downwardly towards runners 116 as lever section 9% moves towards the axis of shaft 98 from the position shown in FIG. 17 to that of FIG. 15 due to lever section 92 being fixed with respect to the nozzle housing (FIG. 7). Thus, nozzle housing 4 pivots partially about lever section 92 and then pivots about the axes of wheels 57 and 53, adjusting brush 44 and inlet opening 27 with respect to runners 116.

The adjustment of inlet opening 27 with respect to attachment 3 is illustrated further in FIGS. 13-15 in which opening 27 is adjusted from the low position to the high position. Knob 107 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 3) moving cam 100 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 15 and 16. Pin 110 is rotated approximately 270 from engagement with low position pin 108 to high position pin 109. When pin 110 engages pin 109 (FIG. 16) lever section 90 is moved upwardly its greatest distance, indicated by Z, from the axis of shaft 98 due to the greatest amount of eccentricity of cam surface 113 from shaft 98.

As lever section 90 moves away from shaft 98, housing 4 pivots in a clockwise direction partially about lever section 92 which aligns with a point indicated at P in FIGS. 13 and 14 and continues to pivot mainly about the axes of wheels 57 and 58. Thus, as shaft 98 is moved away from lever section 90 due to the eccentricity of cam 100, the rear portion of nozzle 2 pivots downwardly about wheels 57 and 58 increasing the spacing between inlet opening 27 and runners 116 to the distance Z.

FIGS. 1-3, 7 and 12-14 show runners 116 of cleaning attachment 3 contacting line 143 throughout the entire horizontal bottom portions of runners 116.. These drawings in such positions permit the principles and operation of cleaner construction 1 to be convenienly described and illustrated. Such positions, likewise show cleaner construction 1 when cleaning short pile rugs and carpets.

Nozzle 2 and attachment 3 in a usual cleaning application, especially cleaning rugs having very long strands or pile 144, will assume the positions shown in F108. 18-20 with respect to the rug backing 145.

The front ends of nozzle 2 and attachment 3 will be inclined upwardly as shown in FIGS. 18-20 spaced above rug backing 145, with rug strands 144 being pulled upwards by the air currents passing through nozzle mouth 27. Rake I23 moves through strands 144 separating them for more efficient cleaning by the moving air currents and for arranging them in an orderly fashion and to present a neat appearance.

Nozzle 2 is supported by the rear portions of runners 116 and by rear nozzle wheels 55 and 56 which move over the matted or compressed strands 144. Nozzle 2, also may be supported above rug backing 145 partially by base plate rear flange 71 when cleaning rugs having very long strands 144.

The adjustment of nozzle inlet opening 27 with respect to attachment 3 and rug backing 145 as shown by the three adjusted nozzle positions of FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 is accomplished in the same manner as described above for FIGS. 12, 13 and 14.

Accordingly, the combined adjustable shag rug power nozzle cleaner construction provides for spacing the nozzle inlet opening a desired or predetermined distance above a shag rug attachment to achieve greater cleaning efficiency and to prevent the nozzle from sealing off against the shag strands of a shag rug, and also provides for combing the rug during cleaning; provides a construction which may adjust the height of the nozzle inlet opening above a rug being cleaned with or without the shag rug attachment being mounted on the nozzle; provides a construction which is easy to manipulate during a cleaning operation; provides a construction in which the shag rug attachment is detachably mounted quickly and easily on the nozzle frontwheels whereby adjustment of the wheels adjusts the vertical spacing between the nozzle inlet opening and the rug attachment when the rug attaching is mounted on the nozzle; provides a construction in which the adjusting means are manipulated easily by rotation of a knob on the rear of the nozzle housing; and provides a construction which incorporates the new and advantageous features described, overcomes prior art difficulties indicated, and solves problems and obtains the new results in the art described.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, cleamess and understanding but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. I

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of the construction shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the combined adjustable shag rug-power nozzle cleaner construction is constructed, assembled and operated, the characteristics of the new construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a suction cleaner nozzle of the wand-type in which a power driven brush is rotatably mounted in a nozzle housing adjacent a nozzle mouth formed in the housing bottom wall and in which the housing is supported on at least a pair of axially aligned adjustably mounted wheels movable with respect to the housing bottom wall adjacent the nozzle mouth; the combination of a shag rug cleaning attachment having a generally rectangular frame including spaced runners, a rake member journaled for pivotal movement on the runners at one end thereof, spring clip means on each runner intermediate its ends detachably engaged with the wheels, and means detachably loosely movably mounting the other runner ends on the housing bottom wall; whereby adjustment of the aligned wheels varies the location of the runners and rake member with respect to the nozzle mouth.

2. In the construction defined in claim 1, the nozzle mouth being located in the housing bottom wall adjacent the front end of the housing, the rake member being located in front of the front end of the housing, and the pair of wheels being located behind the nozzle mouth.

3. In the construction defined in claim 1, the brush extending parallel with the rake member and the aligned wheels, and the axis of rotation of the brush being located intermediate the rake member and pair of wheels.

4. In the construction defined in claim 1, a pair of spaced aligned slots formed in the housing bottom wall adjacent to and rearwardly of the nozzle mouth, said pair of axially aligned wheels being movable through said slots, and the spring clip means extending through said slots when detachably engaged with the wheels.

5. In the construction defined in claim 1, each runner having an upturned front end, a frame cross bar member connecting the upturned runner front ends and located forwardly of the nozzle housing, bracket means mounted on the upturned front runner ends, and the rake member being journaled in said bracket means.

6; In the construction defined in claim 1, the means detachably mounting the other runner ends on the housing bottom wall including, a curved member formed with a slot at the terminal portion of said other end of each runner, the housing bottom wall having an opening formed therein behind each wheel of the pair of wheels, post means within the housing adjacent each power driven brush is rotatably mounted in a nozzle housing adjacent a nozzle mouth formed in the housing bottom wall and in which the housing is supported on at least a pair of axially aligned adjustably mounted wheels movable with respect to the housing bottom wall adjacent the nozzle mouth; the combination of a shag rug cleaning attachment having a generally rectangular frame including spaced runners, a rake member journaled for pivotal movement on the runners at one end thereof, spring clip means on each runner intermediate its ends detachably engaged with the wheels, a pair of spaced aligned slots formed in the housing bottom wall adjacent to and rearwardly of the nozzle mouth, the pair of axially aligned wheels being movable through said slots for adjustment, the spring clip means extending through said slots and detachably engaged with the wheels, a curved member formed with a slot at the terminal portion of the other end of each runner, the housing bottom wall having an opening formed therein behind each wheel receiving slot, post means within the housing adjacent each opening, and the slotted ends of the curved terminal runner portions being inserted through said openings and loosely engaged with said post means when the shag rug attachment is detachably mounted on the nozzle; whereby the loose engagement permits varying of the location of the runners andrake member with respect to the nozzle mouth upon adjustment of the aligned wheels. 

1. In a suction cleaner nozzle of the wand-type in which a power driven brush is rotatably mounted in a nozzle housing adjacent a nozzle mouth formed in the housing bottom wall and in which the housing is supported on at least a pair of axially aligned adjustably mounted wheels movable with respect to the housing bottom wall adjacent the nozzle mouth; the combination of a shag rug cleaning attachment having a generally rectangular frame including spaced runners, a rake member journaled for pivotal movement on the runners at one end thereof, spring clip means on each runner intermediate its ends detachably engaged with the wheels, and means detachably loosely movably mounting the other runner ends on the housing bottom wall; whereby adjustment of the aligned wheels varies the location of the runners and rake member with respect to the nozzle mouth.
 2. In the construction defined in claim 1, the nozzle mouth being located in the housing bottom wall adjacent the front end of the housing, the rake member being located in front of the front end of the housing, and the pair of wheels being located behind the nozzle mouth.
 3. In the construction defined in claim 1, the brush extending parallel with the rake member and the aligned wheels, and the axis of rotation of the brush being located intermediate the rake member and pair of wheels.
 4. In the construction defined in claim 1, a pair of spaced aligned slots formed in the housing bottom wall adjacent to and rearwardly of the nozzle mouth, said pair of axially aligned wheels being movable through said slots, and the spring clip means extending through said slots when detachably engaged with the wheels.
 5. In the construction defined in claim 1, each runner having an upturned front end, a frame cross bar member connecting the upturned runner front ends and located forwardly of the nozzle housing, bracket means mounted on the upturned front runner ends, and the rake member being journaled in said bracket means.
 6. In the construction defined in claim 1, the means detachably mounting the other runner ends on the housing bottom wall including, a curved member formed with a slot at the terminal portion of said other end of each runner, the housing bottom wall having an opening formed therein behind each wheel of the pair of wheels, post means within the housing adjacent each opening, and the slotted ends of the curved terminal runner portions being inserted through said openings and loosely engaged with said post means when the shag rug attachment is detachably mounted on the nozzle; whereby the loose engAgement permits varying of the location of the runners and rake member with respect to the nozzle mouth upon adjustment of the aligned wheels.
 7. In a suction cleaner nozzle of the type in which a power driven brush is rotatably mounted in a nozzle housing adjacent a nozzle mouth formed in the housing bottom wall and in which the housing is supported on at least a pair of axially aligned adjustably mounted wheels movable with respect to the housing bottom wall adjacent the nozzle mouth; the combination of a shag rug cleaning attachment having a generally rectangular frame including spaced runners, a rake member journaled for pivotal movement on the runners at one end thereof, spring clip means on each runner intermediate its ends detachably engaged with the wheels, a pair of spaced aligned slots formed in the housing bottom wall adjacent to and rearwardly of the nozzle mouth, the pair of axially aligned wheels being movable through said slots for adjustment, the spring clip means extending through said slots and detachably engaged with the wheels, a curved member formed with a slot at the terminal portion of the other end of each runner, the housing bottom wall having an opening formed therein behind each wheel receiving slot, post means within the housing adjacent each opening, and the slotted ends of the curved terminal runner portions being inserted through said openings and loosely engaged with said post means when the shag rug attachment is detachably mounted on the nozzle; whereby the loose engagement permits varying of the location of the runners and rake member with respect to the nozzle mouth upon adjustment of the aligned wheels. 